Portland Timbers News Release – 12 July 2012
For immediate release: July 12, 2012
Chris Metz (503) 553-5433 , cmetz@portlandtimbers.com
Marc Kostic (503) 553-5415 , mkostic@portlandtimbers.com
TIMBERS WEEKLY UPDATE: July 12, 2012
Timbers open second half of season Saturday against LA Galaxy at JELD-WEN Field
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers open the second half of their 2012 Major League Soccer season on Saturday as they play host to the LA Galaxy at JELD-WEN Field, presented by CenturyLink, at 8 p.m. (Pacific) in a nationally televised match on NBC Sports Network.
Saturday’s match against the Galaxy will also feature live radio broadcasts on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM. The first 2,500 fans at Saturday’s match will receive a t-shirt giveaway from CenturyLink and the next 5,000 fans at JELD-WEN Field will get a mask of Timbers midfielder Sal Zizzo.
The Timbers (5-8-4, 19pts) carry a six-match home unbeaten streak into Saturday’s fixture with the Galaxy. The club’s current unbeaten run at home ties its MLS record for longest home unbeaten streak, which was first set between July 30 and Sept. 21, 2011. The Timbers are 4-0-2 in their last six MLS matches at JELD-WEN Field and have out-scored opponents 8-4 in that span.
Portland wraps up its three-game, regular-season series with the defending-MLS Cup champion Galaxy (7-10-2, 23pts). The two sides have played twice this season at The Home Depot Center, with the Galaxy defeating the Timbers in both previous matchups. On April 14, an early Kris Boyd strike was answered by three goals from the Galaxy a 3-1 win. Defender Todd Dunivant provided the lone goal in LA’s 1-0 win over Portland on June 17. In the all-time MLS series between the clubs, the Timbers are 1-3-0 against the Galaxy.
Saturday’s match opens a stretch of five matches in 15 days for the Timbers over the final two weeks of their July schedule.
TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. GALAXY
· The Timbers have sold out 26 consecutive home MLS matches at JELD-WEN Field.
· Portland will play its first match under general manager/interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson on Saturday.
· The Timbers open the second half of their 2012 MLS season on Saturday. Portland has accumulated 19 points through its first 17 games, which is one better than the 18 points it collected through the first 17 matches of its inaugural MLS campaign in 2011.
· The Timbers and Galaxy will meet for a fifth time in their all-time MLS series on Saturday. Following the match, Portland will have played LA more than any other MLS side since joining the league in 2011.
· The Timbers will be without the services of midfielder Diego Chara on Saturday, due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for the red card he received against Real Salt Lake last weekend. Chara will miss a second straight home match due to suspension. He sat out the match against San Jose on July 3 due to caution accumulation.
· The Galaxy make their only trip to the Rose City during the 2012 regular season on Saturday. It will be their first match back at JELD-WEN Field since being handed a 3-0 loss by the Timbers on Aug. 3, 2011.
· On Saturday, goalkeeper Troy Perkins will look to make his 47th consecutive start for the Timbers, which ranks among the longest active start streaks for goalkeepers in MLS.
· LA midfielder Landon Donovan has logged three goals and two assists in four career MLS matches against the Timbers.
· The Galaxy have scored 12 goals over their last five matches.
· The Timbers have recalled forward Bright Dike from his loan with the L.A. Blues of USL PRO. He recorded six goals and two assists in 10 games for the Blues, becoming the team’s leading scorer, during his two-month loan spell.
· The Galaxy roster features two former second-division Timbers players in goalkeeper Josh Saunders and midfielder/defender Bryan Jordan. Saunders, a Grants Pass, Ore., native, made 90 appearances for the USL Timbers from 2003-06, while Jordan played his rookie season in Portland in 2007. Jordan played in several matches for the Timbers in 2008 while on loan from the Galaxy.
TEAM NEWS
Timbers win MLS W.O.R.K.S. “How Green Are Your Goals?” Contest
Thanks to the incredible support from supporters and fans, the Timbers are the MLS W.O.R.K.S./Continental Tire “How Green Are Your Goals?” contest winners. As a result of winning the league-wide contest, a deserving school in Portland will receive a $50,000 solar panel installation as part of an MLS W.O.R.K.S. Earth Day 2013 community service project.
In addition, Timbers fan Jeffrey Briley was named the “How Green Are Your Goals?” Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner and has won a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., and a set of tires, courtesy of Continental Tire.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire launched the “How Green Are Your Goals?” campaign as a way to engage MLS fans to participate and support environmentally friendly efforts leading up to Earth Day. Fans were encouraged to visit the Greener Goals website to share stories of how they incorporate green efforts into their everyday lives. Click here for more on the contest and the “How Green Are Your Goals?” campaign.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. and MLS corporate partner Continental Tire announced their commitment to educate the next generation of energy users during MLS Cup 2011 and are participating in Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s (BEF) Solar 4R Schools program.
Portland’s Danny Mwanga nominated for MLS Goal of the Week
Forward Danny Mwanga’s first goal as a member of the Timbers against San Jose on July 3 was nominated as one of five candidates for AT&T Goal of the Week for Week 18. Click here to view the nominees for Goal of the Week and cast a vote; voting ends Thursday night.
The goal scored by Mwanga came in the 29th minute against the Earthquakes off a pass from midfielder Franck Songo’o. Mwanga has won the MLS Goal of the Week award once previously, which came in Week 8 of the 2010 season. The goal was his first career goal scored in MLS.
Timbers supporter Fernando Machicado a finalist for MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP
Fans from across MLS have nominated individuals in their communities who go above and beyond every day to make a difference. Fernando “Nando” Machicado has been named the Timbers’ Community MVP for his work in the greater-Portland area and is a finalist for the league’s greater MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP. The grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 for a charity of their choice and attend the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Click here to vote for Machicado.
Heavily involved in the Portland community, Machicado volunteers as a youth soccer coach and serves as the president of Operation Pitch Invasion, helping to repair park and soccer fields. He also plays a major part in the community outreach efforts of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust.
Goalkeeper Joe Bendik named MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for July
Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik has been awarded the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for July for his awareness and fundraising efforts around the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides event in Portland.
In support of his eight-year-old nephew, Gavin, who battles Cystic Fibrosis, Bendik and his family have long been advocates for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and efforts in finding a cure for the disease.
Bendik led the Portland chapter of Team Gavin in the Great Strides event at Portland’s Oaks Park on May 19. Through the support from the walk and from his teammates who donated gear for an auction, Bendik helped raise close to $3,000 to aid in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. Along with the money generated at the local event, Team Gavin raised more than $30,000 nationwide. Click here for more on Bendik’s recognition and on his family’s work in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Timbers’ RCTID contest offers chance to win two 2013 season tickets
Are you RCTID? The Timbers are holding a photo contest through the club’s Facebook page, allowing fans to display their RCTID spirit. Fans can upload a creative photo and caption to the RCTID tab at www.facebook.com/PortlandTimbers. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite RCTID photos, and the winning entrant will receive a pair of Timbers 2013 season tickets.
The contest ends Monday, July 16 at 5 p.m. (Pacific); additional contest info is available at www.RCTID.com.
Timbers U-23s play host to Kitsap in PDL playoff match Sunday
The Portland Timbers U-23s begin postseason play on Sunday as they play host to the Kitsap Pumas in the divisional round of the Premier Development League (PDL) playoffs at Gladstone High School in Gladstone, Ore. at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Tickets for Sunday’s match are $5 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under, with proceeds benefiting Gladstone High School soccer. Prior to kickoff, the Portland Rain of the Women’s Premier Soccer League and an adidas Timbers Alliance Club will take on Eugene Metro FC starting at 3 p.m. (Pacific).
The Timbers U-23s closed out their 2012 regular season, presented by Billups Worldwide, with a 3-0 win over the Washington Crossfire on Wednesday. With a record of 10-4-2 (32 pts), Portland finished the regular season in second place in the PDL’s Northwest Division. Click here for a complete recap from Wednesday’s match.
Timbers-inspired pizza now on sale at Papa Murphy’s
Now available at Papa Murphy’s stores in the Portland and Southwest Washington areas is the new Timbers-inspired creation, the Lumberjack Pizza. Created by Timbers fan Max Aguirre, the Lumberjack Pizza was chosen by a panel of judges, which included Timbers players Eric Alexander and Joe Bendik, from over 150 entries. Pick up a large for only $10 through Sept. 3.
The Lumberjack Pizza includes traditional Papa Murphy’s Original Crust, along with traditional red sauce and mozzarella cheese. Toppings include salami, pepperoni, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts and green peppers. The pizza is finished with a blend of grated provolone and cheddar cheeses.
TEAM MEDIA SOURCES
TV: “Timbers In 30”
The Timbers weekly television show, “Timbers In 30,” features exclusive, inside access to the club and airs each Friday at 6:30 p.m. on KPTV Fox 12. Moved to a new, Friday night time slot this season, “Timbers In 30” will focus on inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provide detailed team and game analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers players and coaches each week.
Previously aired shows and “Timbers In 30” features can be found at www.portlandtimbers.com.</p>
Radio: “Talk Timbers”
The Timbers’ weekly radio talk show, “Talk Timbers,” presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors regularly airs each Tuesdays at 6 p.m. (Pacific) on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, “Talk Timbers” features interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS during the 2012 season.
Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com. Available podcasts can be downloaded at www.portlandtimbers.com/timbers-podcast-network.
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Chris Gluck
I have been covering the Portland Timbers and Major League Soccer, as a community blogger/analyst for the Columbian Newspaper, since June, 2012. Since then my involvement in soccer analysis has expanded to include participating in the Regional Emmy Award Winning Soccer City PDX TV Show (Comcast Sports Northwest). My unique analytical approach has been published in Europe and presented at the World Conference on Science and Soccer 2014. I also appear regularly as a co-host on Rose City Soccer Show and the Yellowcarded Podcast. You can find my work on PossessionwithPurpose.com, PTFC Collective and Prost Amerika.